Photoevaporating Proplyd-like objects in Cygnus OB2

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of ten large, proplyd-like objects near Cygnus OB2, exhibiting complex morphologies and photoevaporative features, suggesting they are a new class of young stellar objects influenced by massive star radiation.

Contribution

The study presents the first identification of large, proplyd-like objects in Cygnus OB2, expanding understanding of star formation environments near massive stars.

Findings

Objects are larger than Orion proplyds, consistent with size scaling.

They are photoionized by 65 O-type stars in Cygnus OB2.

Central star candidates support the proplyd or EGG scenarios.

Abstract

We report the discovery of ten proplyd-like objects in the vicinity of the massive OB association Cygnus OB2. They were discovered in IPHAS H-Alpha images and are clearly resolved in broad-band HST/ACS, near-IR and Spitzer mid-IR images. All exhibit the familiar tadpole shape seen in photoevaporating objects such as the Orion proplyds, with a bright ionization front at the head facing the central cluster of massive stars, and a tail stretching in the opposite direction. Many also show secondary ionization fronts, complex tail morphologies or multiple heads. We consider the evidence that these are either proplyds or `evaporating gaseous globules' (EGGs) left over from a fragmenting molecular cloud, but find that neither scenario fully explains the observations. Typical sizes are 50,000--100,000 AU, larger than the Orion proplyds, but in agreement with the theoretical scaling of proplyd size with distance from the ionizing source. These objects are located at projected separations of 6-14pc from the OB association, compared to 0.1pc for the Orion proplyds, but are clearly being photoionized by the 65 O-type stars in Cyg OB2. Central star candidates are identified in near- and mid-IR images, supporting the proplyd scenario, though their large sizes and notable asymmetries is more consistent with the EGG scenario. A third possibility is therefore considered, that these are a unique class of photoevaporating partially-embedded young stellar objects that have survived the destruction of their natal molecular cloud. This has implications for the properties of stars that form in the vicinity of massive stars.